Group Announcements

Watch this space for announcements and info about the group. Please keep discussion on this thread focused on group announcements.

Starring this thread is highly recommended!

The general thread for the British Author Challenge is up, as well as the January and Wildcard threads. January will be for books about show business and the Wildcard authors are Susanna Clarke and Terry Pratchett.

General thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366868
January: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366934
Wildcard: https://www.librarything.com/topic/366935

75ers membership - looks like there's been a bit of an upward trend!

>3 drneutron: Woo Hoo! That is awesome!!

Here is the Pacific Northwest January 2025 AAC Challenge thread.

The European Grand Tour thread for January is up and it is Europe in the 19th Century.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/367210

>3 drneutron: Yay! :)

Has the 2025 Threadbook started yet? Can't see it..

>8 noellib: The threadbook was there earlier, but just now I tried to use the link and it timed out with a 504 error message...same with the group wiki. Maybe Jim is doing some maintenance on them?

Me too- the threadbook from this and the 2022 group are both timing out.

The wiki for all of LT is out. Has been happening every weekend for about a month (if not more).

The 2025 75ers' Organizing/Decluttering Support Group is now up at:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/356425

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/367493

Hi guys. Does anyone know how to add an image to your post? Thanks.

There are a couple of links to instructions to add images or do other cool things to your posts on the Group Wiki page here

This and the Threadbook are linked in the group description so we can easily find them.

I must have missed the "join" button. Have tried to join this group but my name is still not listed on the members' Threadbook ....

>16 noellib: Noel - I sent a private message a few days ago. I can’t find your thread in this year’s group. Can you send a link? Happy to add it once I know where it is!

>16 noellib:, >17 drneutron: Never mind, I found the thread you made this morning. That one’s now in the Threadbook!

And we now have a really nice pic for our Group page thanks to Stasia! Be sure to check it out!

>19 drneutron: Nope, I cannot take credit for it since the image was posted to my thread by Susan (quondame).

>19 drneutron: I finally found a credit for the image:

The Stories of Our Lives by Tracy Lundgren for a Book called This is Where I Live by Susan Cain

Although I have no confidence that that information is valid as I can't verify any of it. So, probably not. I found the image in 2022, probably on Facebook, before I resolved to credit my sources, even if I did not pay them.

It does fit in with Tracy Lundgren. So the artist is at least possible.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/367740

I've started a Kitchen thread for 2025. Share your latest recipes, old favorites, or cookbooks with fellow food lovers!

In light of the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday here in the U.S. a couple of days ago, I found this list of books on the Jewish Book Council's website highlighting books about Civil Rights and Race if anyone is interested: https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/books/reading-lists/civil-rights-and-race

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/367914

>24 alcottacre: Great list. Thanks, Stasia.

>26 laytonwoman3rd: You are very welcome, Linda. There are some wonderful reads on the list and several that I have not yet read so I am looking forward to digging into it deeper.

Just to let everyone know, I have made an early start and made sure that I got up the February AAC thread up in a timely manner.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/367970#n8742932

American Muslim Authors

>28 PaulCranswick: I've added that thread to the group wiki too

The February British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Kia Abdullah and Adrian Tchaikovsky.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/368037

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368071

In anticipation of Ann Cleeves' new Jimmy Perez novel this autumn, a few of us have decided to read (or re-read) the Shetland series. There's no schedule, just read at your own pace. Here's the thread:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/368081

The February Grand European Tour thread is up and we are off to Scandinavia.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/368107

>24 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, as you know, I read a lot of books regarding Civil Rights, those who played a major role in this movement, many who were impacted, and the way in which it changed America. Your suggestions are incredible. Many thanks!

>3 drneutron: Wow, Jim, This is incredible. Thanks for posting this, and as always, thanks for all you do to hold this group togther!

>34 Whisper1: I hope they prove helpful to you, Linda!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368250

LT just made an "improvement" that will send a notification whenever you get a mention or reply in talk threads. Users with busy threads may want to turn this feature off at https://www.librarything.com/settings/notifications.

Announcement: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368384#

Very interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing how this works. I'm not sure which side of the fence I'll land. I watch my own thread pretty good, but it would be interesting to see when I'm mentioned in someone else's.

You can also see all of your recent mentions, without a notification, under the new @Mentions button on the left sidebar in Talk. So you won't lose access to the new feature if you turn off the notification part.

Here's the Valentine's Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368424

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368676

The March British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Norah Lofts and Gerald Durrell.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/368811#

I received an email yesterday listing the books for the 2025 International Booker longlist:

The 13 books – 11 novels and two collections of short stories – feature 13 authors making their International Booker Prize debut, many of whom are literary sensations and award-winners in their home countries, and three previously longlisted translators.

The books on this year’s longlist are as follows:

The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem, translated from Arabic by Sinan Antoon

On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated from Danish by Barbara J. Haveland  

There's a Monster Behind the Door by Gaëlle Bélem, translated from French by Karen Fleetwood and Laëtitia Saint-Loubert  

Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu, translated from Romanian by Sean Cotter 

Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la Cerda, translated from Spanish by Heather Cleary and Julia Sanches 

Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson  

Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa, translated from Japanese by Polly Barton 

Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda 

Eurotrash by Christian Kracht, translated from German by Daniel Bowles 

Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes 

Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi  

On a Woman's Madness by Astrid Roemer, translated from Dutch by Lucy Scott 

A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated from French by Mark Hutchinson 

Just thought I would post the list in case there was any interest!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368860

The Grand European Tour thread is up for March and we are joining the long queues in the Warsaw Pact!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/368897

There are so many big books that I haven't yet read.

Please find THE BIG BOOK CHALLENGE here:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/368910#n8777192

For the purpose of this challenge Big Books are those which exceed 500 pages.

I am reading Devils by Dostoevsky this month. All welcome to join in with that or a book similar to it.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369071

Here's the Saint Patrick's Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369213

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369373

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369579

The April British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading PD James and Paul Bailey.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/369634

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369744

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369905

Here's the Easter readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/370178

Easter Treasure Hunt here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/370187

If anyone's in the Los Angeles area this weekend, the 30th L.A. Times Festival of Books is happening on the USC campus!

Free book festival this Sunday in Kensington, Maryland, USA!

https://tok.md.gov/event/kensington-day-of-the-book-festival-2025/

Big Bonus: If you come to the BookCrossing booth (where I and fellow Bookcrossers will be giving away over 1,000 free books all day long), you'll get to meet me! I'll be there wearing my SqueakyChu nametag. Stop by to say hi!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/370384

May in the AAC is a month for reading winners of the Pulitzer Prize in History. Here's the thread.

The May British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Nancy Mitford and Paul Scott.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/370487

I thought someone might be interested in this video that showed up on my YouTube feed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7tRNkiLz9A&list=TLPQMjYwNDIwMjVOFr08ByC3nA&...

"How the Public Library Became an American Civic Institution"

>63 alcottacre: - The link showed the pic then disappeared saying video unavailable in my area. But I did watch this doc on PBS last night! It's called *Free For All* and was very good.

>64 jessibud2: Yes, I watched "Free For All" last night, too, and it was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the history of librarians in the U.S.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/370545

>64 jessibud2: Sorry, Shelley, I did not realize that you would be unable to watch it in Canada. I am glad to see that you could find it on PBS though!

>65 kac522: Yay! I am glad to know that you enjoyed it too, Kathy!

May Grand European Tour thread is up

https://www.librarything.com/topic/370571

In May it will be slightly different as we are looking at Non-national languages.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/370684

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/370870

Here's the Memorial Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371148

The June British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading works from the Tudor and Jacobean eras (1485-1625).

https://www.librarything.com/topic/371236

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371287

The June Grand European Tour Thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/371345

Italy!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371431

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371538

For those wondering when the wiki will be back, it’s baaaaack!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371693

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/371899

The July British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Dodie Smith and Mervyn Peake.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/371930

The July thread is up for the European Grand Tour and we are visiting the Germanic World - i.e. any writer who wrote his/her works originally in German.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/371999

Here's Fourth of July readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/372020

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/372192

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/372482

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/372642

The August British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Emily Tesh and Alex Wheatle.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/372681

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/372777

The August European Grand Tour Challenge thread is up and this is the only month we have dedicated to an individual our late and very dear friend Anita Meulstee. We are visiting the Benelux countries this month.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/372858

For the Jess Walter fans, his talk with David Duchovny has finally hit YT and podcasts. It was recorded at Vroman's Bookstore during Walter's book tour for So Far Gone

It was recorded for Duchovny's podcast; "Fail Better"

Here's the YT link : https://youtu.be/QjTrb7BDVLg?si=eAqjUTe1oN16ksQ2, or if you want to listen to it in podcast form, just search for Fail Better. It was a lot of fun (some of the laughter, not that you could tell, was mine :) )

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/372924

Here's the next readathon https://www.librarything.com/topic/373094

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373266

I just saw on the Library of Congress website that Geraldine Brooks is going to receive the 2025 Library of Congress prize for American fiction. I never knew that there even was such a thing!

I very much enjoy Brooks' books so if you have not read any, I would highly recommend them to you. My favorite is probably still People of the Book.

>95 alcottacre: This is the fourth time in as many days that I’ve seen mention of Geraldine Brooks. I wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something.

>96 PawsforThought: Well, here's another'un...I just came back from a visit to two (COUNT 'EM!) relatively new independent bookstores in downtown Scranton, and one of the things I bought was a copy of Horse.

Here's the Labor Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373396

The September British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Leone Ross and Alan Moore.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/373448

September's author for the American Authors Challenge is Alice Hoffman, and The thread for her is up and ready for you here.

>96 PawsforThought: You might pay attention to the universe in this case, Paws!

>102 alcottacre: She is on my list, I promise! The problem is that so are a lot of others…

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373613

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373765

Mac’s (blackdogbooks) brought back the Halloween scary book read! Join us here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373895

LT has a survey up: https://www.librarything.com/survey.php?source=talk

And the talk thread for it: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373965#

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/373973

October American Author Challenge (Westerns) is here; https://www.librarything.com/topic/374032#n8954509

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374175

I know a lot of people in the group are fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club books and thought you might be interested in this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJCU6cRxqI4&list=TLPQMjUwOTIwMjU5ef3j9lG1Cw&...

The October British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Sarah Moss and Christopher Isherwood.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/374254

OCTOBER GRAND EUROPEAN TOUR THREAD IS UP:

Nous allons dans La Belle France

https://www.librarything.com/topic/374293

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374356

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374573

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374695

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374911

The November British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading Doctor Who and related series.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375026

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375051

Hi Folks, I'm conducting a poll to see what the interest is in doing the Christmas Book Swap this year. (yes it is getting to be that time). I just want to see, given the year we're having, if people want to still do it.

The NOVEMBER thread for the AAC is up. David Treuer is our penultimate author for the year.

A few of us haunting the Halloween books thread decided we want to do a read/reread of F. Paul Wilson’s Secret History of the World series - some may know the Repairman Jack subseries.

We’ve started a planning thread here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375083

The whole series has quite a few elements, but it’s one of my favorites! And you can have fun with just the Repairman Jack books if you’d rather slim it down.

Please join us!

Okay my poll was a mixed bag, but it was ultimately positive, so the Christmas Swap is on!

Come check out the thread - https://www.librarything.com/topic/375139

Post there if you want to join and PM me your address (if you've participated in the past and you haven't moved, then I probably have it)

Hard to believe it, but Merry Christmas!

With many apologies I am pleased to say that the Grand European Tour thread for November is finally up and featuring a photo from Lisbon taken a mere few hours ago by my astonishing wife.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375175

We are visiting the Iberian peninsula.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375180

The planning thread for next year's British Author Challenge is up.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375179

Its been a week so I thought I would boost the signal again.

The 75 Groups Christmas Swap is on again. (not to be confused with LT's Santathing), come check out the thread and join if you can.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375139

Post there if you want to join and PM me your address (if you've participated in the past and you haven't moved, then I probably have it)

Still taking suggestions for next year's British Author Challenge. I hope to start making final selections next week.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375179

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375310

For several reasons, I have decided that I will "retire" from hosting the American Authors Challenge at the end of this year. I have really enjoyed doing this since way back in 2019, but I'm experiencing a bit of burn-out, and also just feel the need to take a thing or two off my plate. I have been so pleased in the last couple years to have others take on a month here and there---thank you, Caroline, Kristel, Katie, Laura, and Paul for your excellent contributions to running this challenge. Maybe one or more of you -- or some other American literature lover -- will take up the reins for 2026. Or, perhaps it's time to give the Challenge a rest. But there are always new voices and unread books to discover. I won't be neglecting my reading of American authors (in fact, I hope I'll read a bit more next year...but that's nearly always my hope) and will certainly follow along if the Challenge continues.

>131 laytonwoman3rd: I am sorry to hear that, Linda, but completely understand.

>133 cindydavid4: I think your post should be directed at Linda, Cindy? All I do is read. . .

>132 alcottacre:, >133 cindydavid4: You ladies are very kind. Thank you. I love this LT community, where even the "lurkers" are friendly!

>134 alcottacre: Read on, Stasia. It ain't nuthin', y' know.

Still taking suggestions for next year's British Author Challenge. I'm going to start posting the final selections on Wednesday.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375179

Last call for input on next year's British Author Challenge. I'll start posting the final selections tomorrow.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375179

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375552

One last appeal for people to join us in our little 75 Group Christmas Swap. Today's the last day to join.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375139

Post there if you want to join and PM me your address (if you've participated in the past and you haven't moved, then I probably have it)

Next year's British Author Challenge selections have all been posted.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375179#8993509

Here's the Thanksgiving readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375632

The December British Author Challenge thread is up. We'll be reading historical mysteries.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/375679

The very last Grand European Tour thread is up this morning.

Books written in the 21st century in a European language by a European language but translated and read in a different /but still European language.

Spotted this today and thought people might be interested in Time Magazine's just released list of "The 100 Must-Read Books of 2025": https://time.com/collections/the-100-must-read-books-of-2025/

>147 alcottacre: Oh goodie, another list. :) I'll see if I can convert that into an actual list and share it on my thread.

>147 alcottacre: If anyone wants Time's list as an actual list, come to my thread. I grabbed the website and stripped it out to just the titles and the authors.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/374287#n9019895

Had to check: I own 6 of the books on Time's list, but only bought one of them. The other 5 are ARCs. And I haven't got to a single one yet. I'm too busy reading library books...

>149 mahsdad: Thank you for doing that, Jeff. I tried to find out how I could make a printable list but failed utterly.

>151 alcottacre: I did a select ALL and copied the page, and then pasted it into a text editor, which stripped out all the HTML and image stuff. Formatting was still a little wonky so I had to do some clean up with some macros and Excel (suprisingly enough, I'm geeky like that)

>152 mahsdad: I am not at all surprised that you are geeky like that, Jeff :)

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375863

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/376093

I think that you guys might get a laugh out of this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T5qotKlvaWI

>156 alcottacre: LOL

Happy holidays to everyone!

>157 thornton37814: I am glad you enjoyed it, Lori. I love Ezeekat!

>158 ocgreg34: Thank you so much, Greg!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/376375

Just a word of warning... I'll be making the 2026 group later this week!

>161 drneutron: Aha, I was wondering about that! I'm off from Weds morning this week, and am sort of hoping to tackle things like setting up new threads during that tiny window.

>161 drneutron:

>163 laytonwoman3rd:- LOL!

>163 laytonwoman3rd: 😂

>161 drneutron: YES! I'll be keeping an eye out :)

🤸‍♀️ · 🤸 · 🤸🏻

Still waiting... :-)

Here's the Christmas readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/376543

This morning I received the very sad news that 75er @Caroline_McElwee passed away just before Christmas after a short illness. She will be sorely missed.

By the way, there's a new place to hang out! Come join me... https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/25017/75-Books-Challenge-for-2026

>170 lauralkeet: so sad may her name be for a blessing

The Wildcard, January, and general threads for the 2026 British Author Challenge are up. January's authors are Cressida Cowell and Richard Adams.

General: https://www.librarything.com/topic/376834#
Wildcard: https://www.librarything.com/topic/376835#
January: https://www.librarything.com/topic/376836#

Here's the New Year's readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377057

Stasia (alcottacre) made a thread where we can remember our friend Caroline. From her first post:

“ We lost a dear friend, Caroline McElwee, just before Christmas 2025. She was someone that I admired and will greatly miss. I thought it appropriate that we have a place to post books that we are reading in memory of her, whether it was a book she recommended to you, or a book from her library - however you want to remember her.”

Thread’s here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377046